Presents

It's hard to know what gifts to get people for special occasions, be it for their birthday, Christmas, wedding anniversary, or any other big event. I have always found it easier to buy I saw this and thought of you gifts. If I had the space I would buy them and put them away but I don't. 

It's hard enough to choose something for Mum, if in doubt go with flowers, and the boys. But to find a present for Dad is almost impossible. He doesn't really need any more T-shirts, he can't wear socks, has no need for a tie or a hat. He can't drink or eat, so food and wine are out of the question. If we buy him a book, Mum has to read it to him.

So he generally gets a bouquet, preferably Sunflowers but if they aren't in season any bright colours will do. Sometimes I like to mix things up a bit, so he has had all the Indiana Jones DVDs, hand warmer hot water bottle thingys, an ugly hat that says Number 1 Dad on it. He has fancy pants soap, but that doesn't run out at the right time so I get him more when it's needed.

After getting him sort-of useful things I got stumped and thought about how Mum and Dad used to buy gifts for themselves but give them to the other for Christmas. One year, Dad bought Mum those giant hand shaped grass scooper things and Mum got him fairy lights! That got me to thinking, - humm what do I want?! I'll just buy that, wrap it up and give it to Dad!

Shoes! Could be a girl thing or could be a family thing, but I never have enough. I have no room under my bed or in my cupboard for any more but that doesn't stop me! Mum's the same, and so is Alex, so must be a family thing!

I think that it's Dad's fault actually. He bought me shoes from Hong Kong when I was tiny, and I still have them. (I don't know if I ever wore them because I can't remember seeing them in any photos.) When he went to Texas on a business trip he brought me back a pair of gorgeous red cowboy boots. Only problem with them was that they were too big, not put on a thick pair of socks too big, 3 sizes too big! They were even too big for Mum. My psychiatrist (that would be Dr Sophie IE me!) thinks that my buying shoes is to compensate the loss of the beautiful cowboy boots. My subconscious is trying to fill a hole made by the boots and the fact that they were never going to fit. It is a struggle but I take it one day at a time. The doctor says not to fight it, to find the perfect pair and to buy them. Who am I to question a Doctor!

On a Sunday when I walk into M & D's, Dad gives Mum a look, that they think I haven't seen, and while I am giving Dad a kiss, she checks out my feet to make sure that I don't have new shoes on. If I do then he tells me that I don't need any more shoes, that he “only ever owned 4 pairs at one time. Work shoes, trainers, going out shoes and flip-flops. Blablabla.” (I think that is a very sad way to live your life but whatev's Dad!) 
He then goes on an old man rant, "When he was young he only had 1 pair and the rest of the time he had to walk around with bits of wood taped to his feet or something along those lines." Trouble is I have already had the old "you have too many shoes, you can only wear one pair at a time" speech at home from Ceddy. So either I tell him, "noooo I have had these for ages I just have never worn them here." (I make sure to walk in the grass before going in if I am going to use that line, so that they look wornen.) or if it happens to be a special occasion, Easter, fathers day, any day really, I put on a different pair that don't go with what I am wearing and wrap my new shoes up for Dad. I am just so lovely like that, he is lucky to have me. ;o)

Ceddy's goddaughter was christened a few weeks before Easter, obviously I needed new shoes to go with my new dress. I had an important role, I'm the godfathers girlfriend and Auntie Sophie!! So I wore the shoes to the Christening and had left them in the car. After giving everyone chocolate I realised that I hadn't got Dad anything. (He only likes chocolate orange, matchsticks and after 8's anyway! So do I, but only the milk chocolate orange not the black chocolate. Sooo feel free to send me any :-P) 
Then I had a brainwave "ahaa my newish shoes are in the car!" Gift bag, shoes inside, bit of tissue paper in the top, Perfect. “Happy Easter Daddy, I got you some new shoes for me to wear to E's Christening!” Shoes are now my go-to gift for Dad when I don't know what to get and I know that the boys have bought flowers. No make that when I know I have bought flowers from the boys!

Feel free to borrow my gift ideas for anyone close enough that will laugh and not keep the shoes!! (Very important that you keep the shoes!!!!)

XOXO